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b'(Ez.47:1-2,8-9,12;\\xa0\\xa0 Ps.46:1-3,5-6,8-9;\\xa0\\xa0 1Cor.3:9c-11,16-17;\\xa0\\xa0 Jn.2:13-22) \\xa0 \\u201cThere is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High.\\u201d \\xa0 On this the feast set aside to commemorate the cathedral of Peter, the Bishop of Rome, himself the founding stone upon which Christ builds His Church, we hear much of temples.\\xa0 In our first reading Ezekial sees in his vision, \\u201cwater flowing out from beneath the threshold of the temple,\\u201d water which brings life to the great sea and the fruit that grows upon its banks; the water that gladdens the holy dwelling of the Most High is spoken of in our psalm; Paul tells us we are \\u201cthe temple of God,\\u201d \\u201cGod\\u2019s building\\u201d; and zeal for the Father\\u2019s house consumes the Lord, and so He purges it with whip in hand in our gospel today.\\xa0 But perhaps the most revelatory statement is, \\u201cHe was speaking of the temple of His body,\\u201d also from our gospel, and noted as explanation of Jesus\\u2019 challenge to the Jews to destroy the temple and He would rebuild it in three days.\\xa0 This essential truth of the nature of the temple is substantiated by Paul\\u2019s teaching of the care needed by those who build within the Church: \\u201cNo one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ.\\u201d\\xa0 Though he then goes on to say that we are the temple of God, wrought in all holiness, and though this is an equal truth, yet neither this truth, nor that which holds Peter as the founding \\u201crock\\u201d of this Temple in which we dwell, have any basis without the essential understanding that Jesus is at the very heart of all our worship, of the Church we are.\\xa0 The Lord has indeed wrought \\u201castounding things\\u2026 on earth.\\u201d\\xa0 He has made us as those trees along the banks of His river of life, bearing His fruit each month for the benefit of the world.\\xa0 He has made us His holy dwelling place and placed His Spirit upon us for the building up of His kingdom\\u2026\\xa0 But all of this has its source in the water of life itself, our Lord Jesus Christ. Brothers and sisters, as we celebrate our Church this day and the glorious blessings the Lord has bestowed upon us as His temple, as His children, let us not forget our Savior who has been the cause of and continues to be the cause of our joy.\\xa0 Let us be washed in the water from His side and be built up in His Body and His Blood.\\xa0 May we have His same zeal for the Father\\u2019s House. \\xa0 Written, read & chanted by James Kurt; produced by Carie Fortney. \\xa0 Music by Carie Fortney; used by permission. \\xa0 ******* O LORD, purify this temple, destroyed by sin; let us truly be your House, dear God.\\xa0 YHWH, you are with us in the midst of your Church, your Son the very foundation of this Temple.\\xa0 And He is the Temple itself, we His very Body; and so, how holy we should be.\\xa0 Indeed, we should be as holy as you, our Most High God, as perfect as your only Son. It is Jesus\\u2019 blood and the water flowing from His side that washes us clean and nourishes the growth of His holy Church.\\xa0 The waters of this River gladden the hearts of all who dwell in your House, O LORD.\\xa0 Upon the banks of this River let us ever remain, bearing fruit each month, each day, each hour, in your holy NAME. Beneath the Cross let us make our home, O holy LORD and God.\\xa0 Here alone in the shadow of Jesus\\u2019 arms will we be made whole, will our temple be cleansed and we become your house of prayer.\\xa0 May the zeal of the Christ chastise our hearts and prepare them for your kingdom.\\xa0 May we be raised with Him on His Day and remain in your presence forever.'